This summer visitors are invited to Kedleston Hall, the National Trust house near Derby, to celebrate South Asian Heritage Month (SAHM) and to experience music, dance and relevant stories which commemorate the history and identity of British South Asians.
SAHM runs from 18th July to 17th August each year. Set up in 2019, the month recognises and celebrates the contributions South Asian communities have made to the UK.
Simran Sandhu, Senior Programming and Partnerships Officer at Kedleston Hall explains: “At Kedleston we continue to recognise our South Asian connections and have produced a programme of events for SAHM with local author and artists.
“These events show the culture and narrative of South Asian heritage in Britain, especially connecting with the local South Asian diaspora in the Midlands.”
Simran elaborates: “It is particularly relevant for us at Kedleston to include a programme to celebrate SAHM due to the links of Lord Curzon’s (custodian of the Hall) time as Viceroy of India and the South Asian collection we care for displayed in The Museum.
This year, whilst visiting Kedleston, visitors will have the opportunity to reflect on this year’s theme ‘Free to Be Me’ and share their thoughts on their own identity and story.”
Kedleston Hall has over one thousand objects from across the Asian continent. This collection was brought together by George Nathanial Curzon, 1st Marquess Curzon of Kedleston (1859-1925) who inherited the Hall in 1916.
Curzon travelled extensively across Asia and in 1899 became the Viceroy of India, making him the highest British representative in colonial India.
Once known as the ‘Indian Museum’ and later the ‘Eastern Museum’, the collection includes objects from countries as diverse as Japan and Turkey, Korea and Nepal. The largest group of objects originate from India, and reflect the period when Curzon was Viceroy (1899-1905). The collection ranges from tourist souvenirs to diplomatic gifts, commissioned pieces and personal items.
The SAHM programming runs from 18 July – 17 August. For further information and opening times, please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/kedleston-hall
There will be a series of events at Kedleston Hall throughout this time:
- Immigration Stories – An Extraordinary Story of an Ordinary Man. An anecdotal account of 93 old Mr Ajit Singh Dosanjh who arrived in the UK in the early 1950s at age 23. Includes a film, written by his daughter Sangita Dosanjh (Thursday 18 July, booking essential.)
- Live Fusion Music featuring the Indian Tabla and harp by Tāla Tarang. (Saturday 10 August, no booking required.)
- Dance performance and workshop by Mohika Shankar. A free workshop of dance exploring movement using hand gestures and expressions rooted in Kathak, an Indian Classical Dance form. Mohika will perform in the Hall afterwards (Saturday 17 August, booking for workshop essential.)
